The Tomorrow Society Podcast

I’ve enjoyed the chance to dig further into how attractions are developed by Walt Disney Imagineering. I learn something new every time I speak with someone that worked for Disney behind the scenes. I originally spoke with sound designer Greg Meader on Episode 67 back in March.… Read more... The post 83. Sound Designer Greg Meader on the Disney/MGM Studios, On-Board Audio, and Carousel of Progress...

When my mind wanders, it often drifts towards ideas on visiting the parks. It’s easy to remember past trips and think about ways that I’d change our touring strategy. Walt Disney World is so complicated, and I have the type of brain that wants to maximize the visit.… Read more... The post 82. Galaxy’s Edge and 30 Hours at Walt Disney World appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

It’s an exciting time for Disney history fans. Many Imagineers from the ’80s and ’90s finally have the chance to tell their stories. This second generation joined the company for the opening of EPCOT Center and worked directly with legends from Walt’s time.… Read more... The post 81. Imagineer Tom K. Morris on The Haunted Mansion, Journey Into Imagination, and Disneyland Paris appeared first on To...

There was so much anticipation heading into the D23 Expo on announcements for the parks. During Bob Chapek’s presentation on Sunday, there were both pleasant surprises and shocking omissions. Many of the rumors we heard before this fan event were either wrong or just premature.… Read more... The post 80. My Reactions to the 2019 D23 Expo appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

Following the massive opening of EPCOT Center in 1982, the transition to a new crop of Imagineers took hold at Disney. This shift led to a more ambitious park with Disneyland Paris in 1992. Show producers like Jeff Burke and Tom K. … Read more... The post 79. Former Disney Imagineer Tim Delaney on The Living Seas and Discoveryland in Paris appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

Later this month, Disney will unveil the latest plans for Epcot’s “ transformatio n” at the D23 Expo in Anaheim. I’m nervous about what we’ll hear during that event, but I realize that EPCOT Center was a product of its time.… Read more... The post 78. How Bowers on Retro Magic, EPCOT Center, and the Opening Day of the Disney/MGM Studios appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

St. Louis, Missouri is not exactly a mecca for theme parks. I’m envious of podcasters and bloggers that live close to Orlando or Anaheim and can easily visit those Disney resorts. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to visit nearby, however. Six Flags St. … Read more... The post 77. Silver Dollar City Trip Report appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

Photo by Jim Sarno There is so much to appreciate when you think about the original EPCOT Center. For its second Walt Disney World park, Disney took a completely different approach and built something remarkable. Looking beyond the massive pavilions and stunning attractions, there are so many little touches that made EPCOT Center a success.… Read more... The post 76. Imagineer Jim Sarno on Disney’...

The 1970s were a tricky period for the Walt Disney Animation Studios. Legendary artists were getting older, and there wasn’t a new crop to take their place. The Character Animation Program at CalArts would help to fix that trend. Beginning in 1975, the first class included familiar names like Tim Burton, Brad Bird, and John Musker.… Read more... The post 75. Imagineer Joe Lanzisero on Toontown, Di...

We’ve all heard stories of talented designers at Walt Disney Imagineering that created iconic attractions. Figures like Joe Rohde, Tony Baxter, and countless others receive well-deserved attention for those feats. There’s another group that also played an essential role in building Walt Disney World and other parks.… Read more... The post 74. David Snyder on Programming the Computer Systems for Wa...

We’re approaching the 64th anniversary of Disneyland’s opening, and the number of former cast members remaining from 1955 keeps getting smaller. Known as Club 55, this group saw the park at the beginning and have amazing stories about those experiences. Tom Nabbe was just 12 years old when he sold newspapers outside the park beginning in July of 1955.… Read more... The post 73. Disney Legend Tom N...

In our tech-driven world, there are so many options to stay connected. Podcasts, YouTube videos, and Instagram stories are just a small part of what’s out there. Despite the wide range of choices, few of them beat the enjoyment of a good book.… Read more... The post 72. Courtney Guth and Emily McDermott, Book of the Mouse Club Podcast appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

Photo by Bob Baranick It’s easy to look at Walt Disney Imagineering as a small group of brilliant designers that put their amazing dreams into the parks. However, the reality is a lot more complicated and includes so many contributors across a variety of disciplines.… Read more... The post 71. Former Imagineer Bob Baranick on Disneyland Paris and Indiana Jones appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

It’s not that hard to start a podcast, but doing one regularly for 14 years is another matter. When a passion project becomes a business, the pressure increases to put out a consistent show. Back in the mid-2000s when Lou Mongello started WDW Radio , podcasting was still in its infancy.… Read more... The post 70. Lou Mongello on the Origins of WDW Radio appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

When I started outlining my thoughts about Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa for a trip report, I realized there was far too much to contain within a single episode. In fact, I needed to seriously develop a plan to fit the material into two parts.… Read more... The post 69. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa (Part 2) appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

There was far too much to cover at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa within a single podcast episode. It’s one of those amazing places that seems pretty straightforward on the surface but offers a lot more than you expect. I thought that the resort would be great, but the beautiful resort blew my assumptions out of the water.… Read more... The post 68. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa (Part 1) appeared f...

It’s easy to look at theme parks as the product of just a small group of brilliant designers. Creative leaders definitely lead projects at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), but they are only a small part of the picture. Numerous specialties fall under the umbrella of WDI and work together to create the ultimate attractions we enjoy at the parks.… Read more... The post 67. Greg Meader on Sound Design...

When I think about monumental pop culture landmarks like Star Wars or The Muppets, it’s easy to feel like they’ve always existed. Both were a part of my life from an early age during the 1980s and well beyond. I’ve known about George Lucas and Jim Henson for a long time, but it’s mostly been the obvious material.… Read more... The post 66. Brian Jay Jones, Author of Jim Henson: The Biography and G...

There is so much happening right now at Walt Disney World and beyond, and we’re on the cusp of massive changes. Theme parks continue to grow and look for new ways to draw guests, and Disney remains at the forefront. The arrival of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will have a huge impact on Disney’s U.S.… Read more... The post 65. Len Testa on Galaxy’s Edge, Disney Dining, and the Future of Disney World Tr...

Photo by Peggie Fariss I’m regularly amazed by the random chance that goes into the careers of even the biggest names in theme parks. Few had grand plans to become Imagineers or even work in the industry. The right personal connection or small choice prepared a trajectory into a specific role.… Read more... The post 64. Peggie Fariss on 50 Years at Disney and Producing Spaceship Earth appeared fir...

I’ve closely studied theme parks by visiting in person, reading books, and talking with experts. That information still pares in comparison to working at Walt Disney World. That close perspective gives a different outlook on what it takes to operate the parks.… Read more... The post 63. Skipper Ben Rebstock on Working at Walt Disney World, Inside the Magic, and the Disney/MGM Studios appeared firs...

Rand Boyd, author of Elbow Grease and Pixie Dust: Memories of Disneyland Maintenance, joins The Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about the book and what it was like to work behind the scenes at Disneyland in the '80s and '90s. Check out the show notes at https://tomorrowsociety.com/rand-boyd-podcast/.

We all take the artistry of theme park attractions for granted, especially ones with less obvious work. We marvel at animatronics on Pirates of the Caribbean or thrills in Space Mountain because the work is out in front. That success is more subtle with the filmed attractions, particularly in EPCOT.… Read more... The post 61. Rick Harper, Director of Impressions de France appeared first on Tomorro...

Disney’s history with theme park movie adaptations is mixed. Pirates of the Caribbean  charmed audiences, but The Haunted Mansion and The Country Bears fell short. Consequently, I entered the theater to watch Tomorrowland back in 2015 with both trepidation and excitement.… Read more... The post 60. Producer John Walker on Disney’s Tomorrowland, The Incredibles, and The Iron Giant appeared first on...

It’s easy as theme park fans to focus solely on the design process when thinking about the parks. Walt Disney Imagineering excites us because it promises endless possibilities for new creations. This approach places less emphasis on how important the teams that operate the parks are to make them succeed.… Read more... The post 59. Dan Cockerell, Former Vice President of The Magic Kingdom appeared...